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Second Peter, part 7, Lessons from Balaam

In 2 Peter 2:11, 12 (quoted earlier), we read about the “self-willed” prophets and false teachers who are “like unreasoning animals” who live by animal instinct alone. These are people who have received the heart and mind of a beast (Daniel 4:16). This is prophetic terminology showing how the empires of men inevitably degenerate into animal instincts of self-preservation and in viewing “grass” (people) as their food. They are not led by the Spirit of God.

Carnal rulers have always considered it to be their right to enslave the common people and to live off their labor. But more recently, in the 19^th century, Darwin’s evolutionary theory set forth the idea that all men are mere animals who have evolved intellectually. Scripture, on the other hand, shows that man has devolved from sons of God to children of the flesh, reflecting “the image of the earthy” (1 Corinthians 15:29). Scripture shows the path of restoration and how to regain “the image of the heavenly.”

Beast empires and their governments are products of men bearing the image of the earthy, which, Peter says, resembles “unreasoning animals.” Their reasoning and logic is called “the wisdom of the world” (1 Corinthians 1:20), which stands in stark contrast to the wisdom of God. Man’s intellect is the mind of the flesh, that is, the “old man” that is begotten by the flesh and blood. Scripture reveals the way to transcend the animal instinct whose roots date back to Adam’s fall.

Peter says that such people “have no knowledge” of Christ, or of the truth, or of spiritual things as a whole. They walk the path to destruction, “suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong” (2 Peter 2:13). In other words, if you live like a beast, you will die like a beast. To live like a beast, Peter says, means that “they count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime.” Verse 14 continues,

¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children.

The Example of Balaam

2 Peter 2:15, 16 says,

¹⁵ forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with the voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

This example is from Numbers 22-24. When Balak, king of Moab, was afraid of the Israelites, instead of submitting to them and repenting, he sent for the prophet Balaam to put a curse on Israel. God told Balaam to refuse, so Balak increased his offer. Numbers 22:16-18 says,

¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; ¹⁷ for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me’.” ¹⁸ Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.”

So far it seems that Balaam remained obedient to the word of the Lord. But God knew his heart. So that night God spoke to him again. Numbers 22:19-22 says,

¹⁹ God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them, but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.” ²¹ So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. ²² But God was angry because he was going…

Just because God gives someone instructions does not necessarily mean that this is His will. A prophet (and anyone who hears God’s voice) must be able to discern the mind and purpose of God. In this case, the will of God was made clear earlier. Some call this the “perfect will of God,” which they contrast to the “permissive will of God.” Whatever terminology we use, it is clear that Balaam should have questioned God further in order to come into agreement with God’s will. But he failed to do this, because he was tempted by greed and self-interest.

Whenever God tells us to do something that is contrary to His own will, it is a trap that does not end well. God often judges us by answering our prayers. Recall when the Israelites themselves were tired of manna and wanted flesh to eat. God sent them quail for an entire month (Numbers 11:19, 20), which gave many of them food poisoning (Numbers 11:33). That was the lesson at the camp of Kibroth-Hattaavah, “Graveyards of Lust.” Psalm 106:13-15 describes it this way:

¹³ They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, ¹⁴ but craved intensely in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. ¹⁵ So he gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them.

Most Christians are not aware of this particular lesson. To hear the voice of God is not enough. One must also deal with the issue of heart idolatry, which indicates one’s disagreement with the will of God. Many tend to pray and twist God’s arm until He relents and allows them to fulfill their desires (lusts). They do not understand that when God allows them to fulfill their desire, the path ultimately leads to the graveyards of lust/craving/desire.

Balaam himself apparently did not know this either. So he went with the messengers of Moab, hoping to receive a great reward with honor from the king of Moab. On the way, God sent an angel, armed with a sword, to kill Balaam. The donkey saw the angel and turned off the path. Balaam beat the donkey until finally the donkey spoke to Balaam. Then Balaam’s eyes were opened (Numbers 22:31), and he “bowed all the way to the ground.”

The angel told Balaam, “Behold, I have come out as an adversary [“satan”], because your way was contrary to me.” When man’s will is “contrary” to God’s will, he is (legally speaking) God’s enemy—even if God has given him permission to do what he is doing. Even prophets like Balaam are in danger if they do not know this aspect of God’s nature. We are responsible not only to be obedient to God’s voice but also to be sure we are not acting “contrary” to Him.

When Balaam arrived at Kiriath-huzoth, the “City of Streets” or “City of Open Squares” (a plaza in the center of the city?) we are reminded of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 7:13, 14,

¹³ Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way of broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. ¹⁴ For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Not only would God not allow Balaam to curse Israel, but God forced him to bless Israel. His prophetic blessings are recorded as part of Scripture in Numbers 23 and 24. Imagine that! A false prophet who prophesied truth and essentially wrote part of Scripture! A false prophet is not one who prophesies falsehood; it is one who prophesies without being in agreement with God.

The same standard applies to prophets today. They may have a genuine prophetic gift, as did Balaam. God may truly speak to them, as He spoke to Balaam. But if their hearts are not in agreement with the mind of God, they the Broadway to the Narrow Way. The Broadway leads ultimately to the Graveyards of Lust—the endpoint of their carnal desires.

For the past 40 years I have contemplated writing a book entitled, Prophets are People Too. It would be a book about immature (“green”) prophets and how they too must grow spiritually. Such growth is measured primarily by their level of agreement with the mind of God. Balaam is the classic example of a genuine prophet who had not yet reached that level of agreement.

Characteristics of False Prophets

2 Peter 2:17 says,

¹⁷ These [prophets and false teachers] are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.

Without the water of life, there is only death and “black darkness.” A traveler in a dry land sees a well and expects refreshment, but the well is empty. False teachers promise spiritual nourishment but cannot provide it. Like a mist, they appear substantial but are quickly swept away. Their words make no permanent change in people’s thinking or their behavior. Countless sermons are preached, but few of their words are remembered by the next week.

2 Peter 2:18 continues,

¹⁸ For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who lie in error,

Many false teachers use impressive rhetoric. Their words sound profound. Yet Peter says they are “words of vanity." They are empty. This recalls Paul's warning in Colossians 2:8 about philosophy and empty deception.

2 Peter 2:19 says,

¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

The false teachers are slaves proclaiming liberty. Jesus said in John 8:34, “everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” Paul similarly wrote in Romans 6:18, “having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Peter exposes the contradiction: Those controlled by lust and greed cannot lead others into freedom. “By what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.” This is a profound biblical principle. Whatever controls a person becomes his master. For the false teachers: greed controls them, lust controls them, pride controls them. Therefore, they are not free, nor are they in a position to promise freedom to others.

Returning to the World’s Defilements

2 Peter 2:20, 21 says,

²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

This may refer to the apostasy of genuine believers, although some maintain that this refers to false teachers who learn the word of God without truly knowing God at all. Either way, Peter is emphasizing the seriousness of rejecting known truth. Accountability increases with knowledge and opportunity.

2 Peter 2:22 concludes,

²² It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

This comes from Proverbs 26:11. The image is graphic by design. The dog returns to what should have been rejected. The pig may be externally washed, yet its nature remains unchanged.

Peter's point is powerful. External reform is not enough. Without inward transformation, people eventually return to their old ways. The imagery suggests that the false teachers never experienced the deep change of nature that characterizes genuine regeneration. In other words, the law remains an external document, because the Holy Spirit has not yet been employed to write the law on one’s heart, according to the New Covenant provision (Jeremiah 31:31-34).